NFL drafts Capitol Hill staffers for lobbying retreat

The National Football League — by far the richest sports league in the world — paid for several U.S. House of Representatives aides to attend last month’s NFL Draft. “Stadium Construction and Municipal Bonds” was the first session for at least 11 aides who attended the NFL’s “ Government Affairs Congressional Forum ” in Detroit on April 25 and April 26. Another session, titled “Community Relations & Economic Impact,” touted the NFL’s marquee events such as the Super Bowl and how they bring “thousands of jobs and tens of millions of dollars in economic activity to a local economy.” Members flew from Washington to Detroit on April 25 — the first round of the three-day NFL Draft — and went back the next day, according to the agenda. Some of the other sessions in the agenda — and the point of view the NFL was selling: Illegal offshore sportsbooks “that continue to subvert the legal U.S. betting market, and how the NFL protects consumers and ensures the integrity of the game.” Player health and safety and how “the league uses technology and resources to protect and advance player health and safety on gameday and beyond.” Drones and stadium safety on “potential legislative framework to counter threats posed by the illicit use of unmanned aircraft systems.” Diversity, equity, and inclusion in head coaching, general manager, and top leadership jobs. The agenda says the NFL “is constantly refining policies that give candidates from all backgrounds the ability to participate and excel on and off the field.” Kennesaw State economics professor JC Bradbury said the general view among academics is that using public money for stadiums and sports events does not make economic sense.